Wrist-based heart rate monitors are becoming much more common and we’re now seeing everything from high-end multisport watches to fitness trackers touting the technology.
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It’s not surprising that it's catching on, with many riders relishing the opportunity to ditch the stinky sweat encrusted heart rate strap. But are wrist-based sensors accurate enough?
Of course, the brands producing these products are going to tell you they are, but the trouble is that variables affecting their accuracy can't often be strictly controlled in the real world.
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So we’ve set out to discover if these wrist-based optical heart rate monitors might replace the old trusty heart rate strap. We put a Garmin Fenix 3 HR to the test against a standard Garmin heart rate strap in real-world riding conditions to see how accurate the wrist-based option can be.
What is optical heart rate monitoring?
Optical heart rate sensors are not a new innovation by any means and have been around in the cycling industry for a while in the form of sensors like LifeBEAM. Originally designed to monitor the vitals of astronauts and pilots, the LifeBEAM uses a sensor placed against your forehead to read heart rate.
How accurate is optical heart rate monitoring?
Accuracy of wrist-worn heart rate monitors vs. heart-rate chest straps
Testing on a turbo trainer
Testing both units on road bike rides
Testing both units on MTB rides
Conclusion
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